Zither

Wood, covered with black lacquer dusted with gold. Keys and pegs of brown wood; stops inlaid with metal. Inscription on back and inside the face.

Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, Chongzhen reign, 1638
Medium
Black lacquer over wood core
Dimensions
H x W x D: 122.8 x 19.6 x 12.7 cm (48 3/8 x 7 11/16 x 5 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1915.99
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Musical Instrument
Type

Zither

Keywords
China, Chongzhen reign (1628 - 1644), Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)
Provenance

To 1915
C. T. Loo (1880-1957), New York, NY obtained in China [1]

1915 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), gift of C. T. Loo presented to C.L. Freer on Friday, December 31, 1915 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Charles Lang Freer’s diary entry for Friday, December 31, where he reports that “Mr. Loo brought musical instruments,” copy in object file. See also letter from C. T. Loo to Charles Lang Freer, undated, copy in object file. Loo writes to Freer: “Our friends in China have heard that you are looking for some antique Ching instruments and so they have bought 2 which I am sending you and hope that you would give us all a great pleasure to accept them as souvenirs from our Chinese friends.” C.L. Freer’s notation on Loo’s letter - “ANSD Jan. 3, 1916” - dates Freer’s response to Loo. The second musical instrument to which Loo refers in his letter is F1915.100.

2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
C.T. Loo (C.L. Freer source) 1880-1957

Description

Wood, covered with black lacquer dusted with gold. Keys and pegs of brown wood; stops inlaid with metal. Inscription on back and inside the face.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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